John the Baptist – The Thrill of Prophetic Fire (Part C)

What are people that you are exposed to to preach the gospel will be here from us.

Some of us cannot do it in the workplace, not so much because we've ruined, I witnessed because conditions and circumstances are such that it does not lend to it.

God can overcome even that hopefully we are all stirred together by the spirit of God to preach his truth same seal conviction without conformity. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Genesis.

Please stay with us after today's message more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today is part three of pastor Rick study called the thrill of prophetic fire will be teaching John chapter 3 today verse six of John chapter 3 it says and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Very clear, very simple. Repent to get right with God.

You know you rotten. I know your rotten God knows your rotten repent, prodigal son, this is what happened to him first in his heart.

In Luke 1518.

He says he says I will arise and go to my father and I will say to him.

Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. He makes this commitment to himself.

He practices his confession.

Then he sees the father. The father could while the father see symbols running to him.

Then he makes good on his pledge this resolution. Verse 21 and the son said doing father I have sinned against heaven and in your site and am no longer worthy to be called your son.

That's repentance that is the sweetest picture. I think of repentance in all the Bible is there some other's arrival and so I could just say this with your none sweeter is outstanding. Parents whose children are prodigal you trust God, like the father of the prodigal, and so the message convicted people.

John didn't say well you know I don't want to hurt the feelings will walk way out here to the wilderness again and then his message was scathing.

Verse seven infective G. Campbell Morgan calls it is is but when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. You bunch of snakes tricking me. I know you are you got your robes on. You see the people coming out and you really want to stop that they can come back to your little get together bunch of snakes. That's what he did. It tells us that right there. How do you make that means something other than what it means you can't unless you live in less you rewrite your Bible as their publishers trying to do, until someone told me they were making again another effort to make them gender specific, not even offering the old versions man that is hostile, God will deal with them. A final note about John's preaching out in the wilderness is his message was invasive. It invaded the enemy's territory was that what is that the flash it got deep inside her erroneous. She was seeing when John said you wish, you cannot have your brother's wife, you are sending you our adulterer. She never let that go.

He got into her deep as the saying goes. Got you go. We got the whole farm and of course Hell has no fury like a sinner, scorned on-campus male or female and she had John beheaded. She was scorched, that is an occupational habit of a prophet, and we are supposed to be prophets of the Lord prophet is one who God speaks through priest is the one that speaks to God on behalf of the people.

Prophet is one again that God speaks to the people through the prophet and sometimes he has to give them a little muscle to do it.

So the power of John sermons was in his life not in the miracles not in the message John in chapter 10 verse 41 things verse 41 tells us clearly that John did no signs he had no miracles. He didn't make get off the water partner. He didn't bring fire from heaven, the miraculous power of John was in his message and in his life. Those two were inseparable non-conformity. Now again were back to our time, the days that we live in. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in these days. Insert your name.

There came preaching because nonconformity takes conviction to stand up to people it takes conviction. It always has.

Revolutions have been born and have succeeded because of people and their convictions, right or wrong. It is a fundamental of the universe. It should be a fundamental of the church also saw his miracle was preaching to conversion his miracle was creating a condition by which people could discover a contrite heart in the presence of God. He accepts how many times did John preach from Genesis to Isaiah and Jeremiah, would you have love to have heard his sermons and to have experiences power and yet in spite of all of that. He was a man who never promoted himself will get to that in the second and so one of the lessons of this not having miracles but yet having so many people come to him is that we do not need the sensational. We need to truth. The world needs from us the truth.

The world doesn't know if needed some Christian high claimant or or 12. I just know it's going to happen when how one. How do you know it's going. How do you know the future. How do you know what God said you want just not maybe be so aggressive.

There and just stick to what he has already said why can you not be satisfied. Why can we not be satisfied with what God has already said unless you are sure that the anointing is upon you, and that what you are about to say is from God and entirely consistent with his word. Eliza's power was by fire is what was needed in his day, but John's was by preaching that is what was needed in his day, and it's up to us to understand what is needed for us to baptize sincere souls to remove from them the judgment that awaits them, not by clever talking but by clear speech of the gospel, not by the Whately words but mighty words not being wordy but being Whately depth truth, something that presses on the other person. You do not have to be a scholar but the message will scorch them the message will touch them because in the presence of God. I don't think I said this in a while. There are no intellectuals in God's presence is not while you pursue part and I'm impressed. So how do you tie issues again so that is in-home.

Warner Bros. told me a story about years ago he met somebody and the person said to him, I'm an intellectual. I would love to meet such a character today and because after I got up off the floor laughing in and I would I would tell them it to God. There are no intellectuals anyway. Continuing with this. The Lord's teaching on John. This is critical. Whether Jesus say about this prophet.

That's what I'm interested in is I want some of this if if he be good man. Matthew chapter 1111 chapter 11 verse 11 Jesus said surely I say to you among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.

Then in Matthew 11 verse 14 he says and if you are willing to receive it. He is Elijah to come home man that sorry this is a reincarnation of these preaching what is how does this work what was going on with this well. The Lord's help.

Maybe I can help us all with this Jesus said, John was Elijah, though John did not recognize this likeness. John didn't say was Elijah. John refused.

It is a matter of fact. Why John's eyes were on God, not on himself when he says he I must decrease. He must increase when he was sending his disciples to follow Jesus is teaching us that it was not about John the Baptist. He was about God. He was all about Yahweh.

So when asked if he were Elijah and he was asked to write out said no, John's gospel chapter 1 verse 21 and they asked him, what then are you Elijah and he said I am not. Are you the prophet, and he answered knows his answers got shorter each time I am not know and is a little tired of them. I think, but the point is, the Jews expected the prophet like Moses to come in the expected allies of the come and they still do we do to in a sense me finish with some of this. Knowing what we know about John the Baptist. Had he saw himself as Elijah. I am sure he would have deflected the question, are you Elijah. I'm sure he would no way he would've said all yes medevac I am he would not dare to promote himself to such an elevated status.

It was rather insulting to him for someone to associate, John the Locust theater with Elijah. That is a tribute to the man doesn't mean he was wrong doesn't mean he was right. It just helps us understand that there's more going on here just to clear answer. Jesus is already settled, but there's more to it is to the thought. All of Jesus is not getting all the nothingness dull thing about John and that's that Scripture is all of Scripture that we need to understand these things and so the Jews asked him this question because they believed Elijah would return why Malachi tells us that that's why Malachi chapter 4 verses five and six behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet. This is written long after Elijah had ascended into heaven in a chariot of fire. He says I will send Elijah the prophet before you, the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children in the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. So now you're listening to that as a junior say. I believe the Scripture then you want to avoid that curse our Old Testament ends with the word curse will that's because a solo law can do to you is curse you, the laws just look is the microscope doesn't have any cure.

This is a look at that you got it also away doesn't provide a solution.

The cultivar was it covered it but it didn't give a solution, but Jim but John said the Lamb of God who takes away the sin he is the solution. We know this.

What he did what Jesus is done we call his finished work. Grace is just one word to cover all Malachi's prophecy is a reference to John and beyond, not to a little literal return of Eliza himself. We do not believe now just now. Could Elijah be one of the two witnesses in Revelation is very possible there only there three people in the Scripture counting speaking of Christ that have unique deaths Moses death was unique. Moses come up on the mountain and he died. Nobody ever saw him again. No one knows where his grave is, but he died. Nonetheless, Enoch however did not experience death. According to the Scriptures, nor did Elijah could God be intending to use these two men in the end times and do whatever he wants is God there be no violation of truth is not reincarnation but there's more to this story, but the belief found its way to the disciples. The Lord knew about it already interested in Matthew 11, but that comes up again in Matthew 17.

After the Transfiguration, for the Lord makes it clear that there are multiple fulfillments of that verse in Malachi is not going to be just John the Baptist comes in the spirit of Elijah and he that's the fulfillment that's not what Jesus says. Incidentally, the gem out of Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah show up on the mountain hell is gotta be saying man can get rid these guys and and that is up a powerful moment when you look at it from you know God is just a master of of habit of building things with meaning, and he built that moment with meaning. But I know we don't have time. I need to move forward.

John's Gospel 17 verse 10 it says in his disciples asked him, saying, what then do a lie than to describe say that Elijah must come first.

Jesus answered and said to them, indeed.

Elijah is coming first and will restore all things pause their John the Baptist did not restore all things.

So there are multiple phases of this fulfillment. Yet Jesus said if you can handle this you can understand that a phases. Malachi 4 is John the Baptist fulfilling a phase of that work. It's called the near in the far fulfillment of prophecy it shows up in other prophecies also. It continues Jesus does it says but I say to you that Eliza has come already and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wish. Likewise, the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands and so Jesus is keeping in front of them. The mystical elements of prophecy of God's fulfillment of the far reach of God's word of this fact that there is so much out there. We can take it all in, but God can now not done with this yet. John was like Elijah internally spirit and power that that fire of the prophet he stands in a class all by himself. I think in the New Testament.

Externally, he was also like Elijah and that he was rugged, independent, nonconformist, both men were that way.

Ahab was not change Elijah. It was an idolater in the temple I got we've discussed at length did not have the meaning for John that it had for Annas and Caiaphas, John possibly could've himself been a high priest who knows, he had the credentials. Luke's gospel chapter 1 verse 17 this is Gabriel. The angel before the birth of John speaking to John's father Zacharias.

He says he will go. He will also go before him the him there. The pronoun is Jesus Christ.

In the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord number to review this and wrap it all up for us when up to two thrown off by so the angel Gabriel also rings and and just says that verse in Malachi Elijah's going to be a part of that fulfillment that his understanding if the Jews would have received Messiah. Then John would have been the fulfillment of the Elijah figure found in Malachi, but they did not, as a people as a nation, as individuals, they receive them, but not as a nation. If they refuse the Messiah and they did. Then another Eliza like prophet would be sent in the future. Now, let's review it and patch up any loose ends. There is a triune fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy which the New Testament unfolds for us. John the Baptist was the first phase of the promise from Malachi 4 of the of the Elijah figure. But then on the Mount Transfiguration, who do we see with Moses, Elijah, not John the Baptist was dead at that time. So you see, Eliza remains personally distinct. He is who he is. He is not somehow part John part Elijah that's not the idea, there's no such thing as reincarnation. The Bible teaches is appointed, one for man to die. After that the judgment and so were beginning to see a bigger picture of prophecy built into one or two little versus in Malachi and that appearance was a stunning vindication of the messianic role of Jesus Christ is not just a man born in Bethlehem. He's Messiah and Messiah happens to be God. That was the Mount of Transfiguration, among other things, and so the third element to this John the Baptist, you have the appearance of Elijah.

In the days of Christ and then you have the end times. Eliza like figure appearing calling from heaven, as did Elijah in Kings and second Kings chapter 1, for example, calling for fire upon his enemies.

We need to just turn their Revelation chapter 11 verse three and I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before God, the God of earth of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies and if anyone wants to arm them. He must be killed in this manner.

Now I'm not saying that Eliza himself is going to be one of these men. What if he is I will not be wrong. Gonna say is not him either. I don't know is just what I do know that the spirit of Elijah that this is not the God breathed spirit part but that personality fierceness that nonconformity that wrath on unrighteousness will be in those two witnesses, and it was in John just John did not call fire and flame form, but he used it in the form of the word of the Lord. So I hope that helps. If not, you just you just have to get the CD and hopefully it did it right. While a few more things about this man Elijah. He is the voice. Some thought that Roy Orbison was the voice but it's not is John the Baptist's message.

He was the most kindred to Eliza of all the New Testament characters. He is the easiest fit to Malachi chapter 4 verses five and six Isaiah chapter 40. Listen to this. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God. John said I'm not Elijah. I am the voice in the wilderness, making straight the path for our Lord. Now this in Isaiah making prepare the way of the Lord is Jehovah or Yahweh. It is assumed and applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament, which makes Jesus Jehovah of the Old Testament, so there's yet another Jesus never said he was God.

Well, first off, he did and secondly he did and and that's that. So all four Gospels.

They called Isaiah and apply this to John the Baptist in his role as the forerunner of Jesus Christ.

Malachi against time chapter 3 verse one behold a semi messenger, and he will prepare the way before me in the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts, and that also has a near and far fulfillment in Jesus Christ and so they came to hear the voice in the wilderness, Jesus picks up on that. He makes it very clear that this is just what they came to hear in Matthew's gospel chapter 11 beginning in verse 10, this is John in prison. He's not sure he is a doubting moment because he was a man of like passions just like Eliza was like us John the Baptist was like us because he was like a larger world. In this together and so John doubted to me is like this castle of a man who had this moment of doubt and in Jesus deals with this and and and he makes it very clear to John that he is indeed the Messiah but after the, the disciples of John, depart Jesus says to those standing around.

This is as a departed, Jesus began to say to the multitude concerning John where did you go out to the wilderness to see read shaken by the wind. But what did you go out to see a man clothed in soft garments. Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in Kings houses, what did you go out to see a profit. Yes, I sent you in more than a prophet for this is he of whom it is written, behold, I send my messenger before your face will prepare your way before him.

So the Lord merges Isaiah chapter 40 verse three in Malachi 3 verse one emerges them together.

He applies them to John and this kind of literature cannot be thought up by human beings. It is define the came to hear a man filled with the spirit of God. What are people that you are exposed to to preach the gospel.

What will they hear from us. Some of us cannot do it in the workplace, not so much because we've ruined our witness, but because conditions and circumstances are such that it does not lend to it. God can overcome even that hopefully we are's all stirred together by the spirit of God to preach his truth the same zeal conviction without the conformity. You know they going to lie about us they going to attack us.

God will rapturous and you know it wasn't homeschoolers is not homeschooled going on shooting up people blowing up things it's it's not Christians doing these things with the world drunk with their lust for power will blame us. Nonetheless, it's not our care. Care is not the right, the news is like trying to get help moving our task is to reach those God sent us reaching fire means judgment wrath, anger means it needs to be energy in our message comes from our heart because our hearts have been touched by God move you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick is teaching from God's Word each time you tune as we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. This teaching is available free of charge at our website. Just visit cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick you can do so@crossreferenceradio.com or search for cross reference in your favorite podcast app store. That's all for today. Join Pastor Rick for more character study right here on the cross reference or a